Tangled Magazine

Iron Man
A film review by Laura Hartley

4.5 OUT OF 5.0 STARS

Written : Stan Lee (comic)
Mark Fergus (screenplay)
Hawk Ostby (screenplay)
Art Marcum (screenplay)
Matt Holloway (screenplay)
Directed : John Favreau
Starring : Robert Downey Jr, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jeff Bridges, Terrence Howard

Directed by Jon Favreau, Iron Man, based on the 1960’s Marvel Comic stars Robert Downey Jr as Tony Stark, Gwyneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts and Terrence Howard as the conflicted friend, Jim Rhodes.

Downey is excellent as Tony Stark, an obnoxious, self absorbed (and genius) ladies man, who is kidnapped, injured and tortured while on a weapons demonstration in Afghanistan. When forced to build his own missiles for the enemy, he tricks them, instead building a suit of armour that allows him to escape. Back in the USA, Tony decides to use that suit to help stop evil, along the way realising there is more to life than booze, sex and weapons.

Iron Man stands apart from its Marvel Comics brothers and sisters (Spider Man, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, X Men, Daredevil etc). It’s pacing is perfect, and has you ensnared in the plot for the entire 126 minutes. While the ending is pretty obvious, the movie still allows you to worry about the characters.

The Iron Man costume in itself is a reason to see the film. Illustrators and special effect technicians allow you to see Robert Downey Jr fly (while talking on the phone), shoot fire and bounce bullets off an incredible red and gold suit. Gwyneth Paltrow is dressed attractively as the sexy but demure assistant.

This film will not leave you upset, in tears, or changed at all, but that is not its aim. It’s aim is to provide the viewer with entertainment, while bringing to life a character (Tony Stark) whom is both loved and feared around the world. Very little, if anything can be faulted in this film.

Iron Man is in Australian theatres May 1.